About Harper & Company CPA Plus · Columbus
Harper & Company CPA Plus is a privately held, full-service CPA firm in Columbus, Ohio, founded by Glenn Harper, CPA, who has held his license since 1994. Headquartered at 1396 King Ave on Columbus's west side, the firm provides tax preparation, accounting, payroll, QuickBooks training, and high-level business advisory and consulting services to entrepreneurs, small businesses, individuals, trusts, estates, and not-for-profit clients. In 2017, Glenn expanded the practice from a traditional tax-compliance shop into a strategic advisory firm, a move that helped earn the 2021 Luca Award from Thomson Reuters and a place on Accounting Today's 2022 MP Elite list of top Managing Partners.
Harper & Company CPA Plus (legal entity Harper & Company, CPA LLC) operates from 1396 King Ave, Columbus, OH 43212, serving clients across Central Ohio and beyond. Founder and owner Glenn Harper has been a CPA since 1994 and is co-host of the podcast Empowering Entrepreneurs; he earned a B.S. in Business Administration – Accounting from The Ohio State University and was named to Accounting Today's 2022 MP Elite as one of the top 10 Managing Partners in the country. The firm was founded around a simple belief, articulated on its website: 'no entrepreneur should be consumed by endless hours of work only to find themselves on a hamster wheel instead of growing their business.' In 2017 Glenn pivoted the firm beyond tax compliance toward proactive business advisory, building a team around Practice Manager Julie Smith, MBA (Ashland University; MBA, Franklin University), who joined in 2013 and was named CPA.com's 2021 Innovative Practitioner of the Year and accepted the Luca Award on the firm's behalf that same year. CPA Paul Brousil, who joined in August 2017 and holds a B.A. in Accounting from Bowling Green State University, brings more than 15 years of public accounting and trust-tax experience, serving small businesses, individuals, trusts, estates, and not-for-profit clients. Core services include bookkeeping, bank reconciliation, financial statement preparation, EIN applications, payroll, QuickBooks training, tax preparation, and strategic advisory engagements built around each client's goals. The firm's mission is 'to empower business owners with clarity and guidance, enabling them to thrive in both their businesses and their lives.'
- In business
- 9 years (BBB; business started 6/1/2016)
- Owner
- Glenn Harper, CPA (Owner / Managing Partner since 2016; CPA since 1994)
- Serves
- Columbus, Ohio and Central Ohio; serves clients across the U.S. via remote/virtual engagements (per firm model focused on entrepreneurs nationwide)
- Rating
- 4.7 stars across 27 Google reviews (Birdeye aggregate). TopRatedLocal Rating Score™ of 87.65 (9 reviews, 5.0 average). TrustAnalytica: 5.0 average across 12 reviews.
About Harper & Company CPA Plus
Harper & Company CPA Plus is a privately held full-service CPA firm headquartered at 1396 King Ave on Columbus, Ohio's west side. The practice combines traditional tax and accounting services – bookkeeping, bank reconciliation, financial statement preparation, payroll, QuickBooks training, and tax compliance for individuals, businesses, trusts, estates, and not-for-profits – with strategic business advisory for entrepreneurs. Founder and owner Glenn Harper, a CPA since 1994, leads the firm alongside Practice Manager Julie Smith, MBA, and CPA Paul Brousil. The firm was the 2021 winner of the Thomson Reuters Luca Award, and Glenn was named to Accounting Today's 2022 MP Elite list of the top 10 Managing Partners in the country.
Our Story and Visionary Partnership
According to the firm's website, Glenn started Harper & Company with a deep technical command of accounting but a growing belief that entrepreneurs deserved more than year-end tax filings. In 2017 he expanded the practice beyond traditional tax compliance into a firm committed to delivering advisory and consulting services. Practice Manager Julie Smith, who had joined in November 2013, brought corporate and operational expertise that complemented Glenn's technical foundation, and together they formed 'a synergy that redefined what an accounting firm could be.' Their shared mission: 'to empower business owners with clarity and guidance, enabling them to thrive in both their businesses and their lives.'
The Heart Behind the Firm
The team describes Harper & Company as being about 'more than just numbers and spreadsheets' — it is about connection, collaboration, and partnership. The firm's stated commitments include understanding the peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship, being the first call a client makes for pivotal decisions, and walking alongside entrepreneurs through their journeys.
- Understanding the peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship
- Being the first call you make for pivotal decisions
- Walking alongside entrepreneurs through their journeys
Meet the Team
The senior team includes three named professionals with academic credentials from Ohio institutions and combined decades of public-accounting experience. The firm also lists team members referenced in client reviews (e.g., 'Ashley' is mentioned by name in Google reviews), though only three are profiled on the official Meet the Team page.
Glenn Harper, CPA & Owner
Glenn has been a CPA since 1994 and is the Owner of Harper & Company CPAs Plus, an entrepreneur, public speaker, and co-host on the podcast Empowering Entrepreneurs. Outside of work he is a devoted Ohio State Buckeyes fan and enjoys golfing, fishing, hiking, cooking, and time with his three children Austin, Riley, and Megan. Education: B.S. Business Administration – Accounting, The Ohio State University.
- CPA since 1994
- B.S. Business Administration – Accounting, The Ohio State University
- Accounting Today 2022 MP Elite – Top 10 Managing Partners
- Co-host of the podcast Empowering Entrepreneurs
Julie Smith, MBA – Practice Manager
Julie joined the firm in November 2013 and brings a strategic approach to running the practice. She was named CPA.com's 2021 Innovative Practitioner of the Year and accepted the Luca Award on behalf of the firm in 2021. She is co-host of Empowering Entrepreneurs and speaks nationwide about leadership, culture, and growth in public accounting. Education: B.S. Business Administration, Ashland University; MBA, Franklin University.
- Joined November 2013
- B.S. Business Administration, Ashland University
- MBA, Franklin University
- CPA.com 2021 Innovative Practitioner of the Year
- Co-host of the Empowering Entrepreneurs podcast
Paul Brousil, CPA
Paul joined the firm in August 2017 and brings more than 15 years of CPA experience in public accounting and trust tax preparation. He serves small businesses, individuals, trusts, estates, and not-for-profit clients. Education: B.A. Accounting, Bowling Green State University. He and his wife Dana have a daughter (13) who plays French horn in middle school and a son (10) who plays travel baseball and basketball throughout Central Ohio.
- Joined August 2017
- B.A. Accounting, Bowling Green State University
- Specialties: trust tax, estates, small business, not-for-profits
Accounting Services
From start-ups to established enterprises, businesses rely on accurate, insightful financial information to maintain profitability and capitalize on new opportunities. The firm's accounting services focus on freeing owners from the day-to-day 'time eater' of record-keeping so they can focus on core business operations.
- EIN Applications
- Bookkeeping
- Bank Reconciliation
- Financial Statement Preparation
Business Advisory & Consulting
Drawing on its 'A different kind of CPA firm' framework, the advisory engagement begins with the client's goals, reviews the business plan, and builds a tailored roadmap covering entity structure, tax strategy, team-building, and lifestyle balance. Clients are asked to provide their business plan and the last two years of financials/tax returns before the first advisory session.
- Goal-based advisory engagements
- Business plan & financial review
- Foundational strategy: tax strategy, entity structure, team building
- Accountability and ongoing maintenance plans
Tax Preparation & Compliance
Harper & Co prepares individual, business, trust, and estate tax returns and works directly with the IRS on clients' behalf as a third-party designee. The firm's FAQ notes that under normal circumstances refunds are issued within 4–6 weeks of IRS receipt, and clients are instructed to call the office if they have not received refunds within 10 weeks.
- Individual tax returns
- Business tax returns
- Trust & estate tax
- Not-for-profit tax
- IRS third-party designee filings
- Tax-refund tracking guidance
QuickBooks Training & Payroll
QuickBooks training and end-to-end payroll services are listed among the firm's core offerings on both its website and the BBB profile. Paul Brousil and the team help small businesses select, set up, and run QuickBooks, while the payroll service handles the ongoing cycle so clients don't lose time balancing their books.
- QuickBooks training
- Payroll services
Tax Tools & Resources
The website's Tax Tools section links to IRS and Ohio resources for clients managing their own filings, including a link to the IRS Exempt Organizations Select Check for verifying whether a charity or non-profit is eligible to receive deductible contributions.
- Where's My IRS Refund
- Where's My Ohio Refund
- IRS Exempt Organizations Select Check
Frequently Asked Questions
The firm's FAQ page addresses common client questions about filing logistics and pricing. It emphasizes that 'At Harper & Co, we do our best to make filing your taxes an easy and painless process' and encourages clients to call 614-456-7222 with any return-review questions.
- How long does it take to receive my refund? (4–6 weeks normal, contact office if past 10 weeks)
- I'm not sure where or when to file my tax returns (instructions, mailing labels, deadlines provided)
- How much will Harper & Co's services cost? (services unique to every client)
Awards & Recognition
Harper & Company CPA Plus has earned national recognition for innovation and leadership in public accounting. The firm was the 2021 winner of the prestigious Luca Award from Thomson Reuters, and individuals on the team have been recognized by Accounting Today and CPA.com.
- 2021 Luca Award – Thomson Reuters
- 2022 Accounting Today MP Elite – Top 10 Managing Partners (Glenn Harper)
- 2021 CPA.com Innovative Practitioner of the Year (Julie Smith)
Contact & Office
The firm is located at 1396 King Ave, Columbus, OH 43212, with office hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. Inquiries are handled by phone at (614) 456-7222, fax at 614-456-7569, or via the consultation-request form on the website.
- Address: 1396 King Ave, Columbus, OH 43212
- Phone: (614) 456-7222
- Fax: 614-456-7569
- Email: [email protected]
- Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM